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FRANCIS NICHOLLS (Nick) YOUNG, 76, lost his 27-year battle with Parkinson's Disease on November 6, 2019. Quiet, strong, kind and generous, Nick demonstrated how to deal with illness with dignity, humor, and a commitment to helping others dealing with the disease.
Born November 23, 1942, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Alma Stanley and David Alexander Young, Nick was raised in Raleigh, attending Broughton High School. He earned a textile degree and studied computer science at NC State, where he was also a proud Kappa Alpha Fraternity brother.
A Vietnam vet, Nick served as a fire control technician in the Navy from 1966-69, stationed on the USS Clarion River. He began his computing career at Burlington Industries in Greensboro and Irwin, NC; worked as a computer programmer at First Citizens Bank; and moved to Acurex Environmental Engineering Consulting, becoming Arcadis, where he was a computer programmer, then a business administrator, for 25 years. Nick loved his work; his only regret was that Parkinson's forced him to leave the job and coworkers that he loved. The music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan was his favorite through many years.
An athlete, Nick, was a high school all-state and state champion in the breaststroke his senior year. He also ran 11 marathons from age 40-53 until sidelined by Parkinson's, but he continued to inspire others to run. Always enamored with technology and gadgets, Nick also indulged his creative side through painting, wood sculpting, and collages.
Nick did everything possible to fight Parkinson's and to help others cope with a degenerative, debilitating disease. He participated in clinical trials and patient support groups. He joined Dr. Burton Scott in lectures and mentored first year Duke medical students in his home, also sharing patient experiences with Duke physical therapy PhD candidates.
Nick is survived by his wife, Judy Young; sister Caroline (David) Irvin of Raleigh; brothers Sidney Stanley Young (Patricia) of Raleigh, and Richard (Holly) Young of Vinalhaven and Rockland, Maine; niece Nicki Young; nephews David Young II, Peter Young, Will Young, Nicholas Young, and David and John Irvin; stepson Kevin O'Gorman (Cindy); and step grandchildren Ryan and Catherine O'Gorman.
Following Nick's example of appreciation for others, the family thanks Dr. Burton Scott at the Duke Movement Disorders Clinic, and Dr. Peter Perault in Chapel Hill, who took care of Nick for many years. Thanks also to Nick's caregivers: Jimmy Stephenson, Alfreida Brown, Cliff Small, and the staff at Morningside of Raleigh.
Visitation with the family will be held at the family home in Hayes Barton on Friday, November 8, from 5 to 8 pm. A celebration of Nick's life will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton St., on Saturday, November 9, at 11:00 am.
Those who wish to honor Nick's memory are invited to make a donation to the Duke Movement Disorders Clinic, ATTN: SW, at 932 Morreene Rd, Durham, NC, 27705.
Arrangements are being made by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC.
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Charles Styron
Nick and I grew up around the block from each other, and he and I were fairly close for a stretch of time during our Junior High and High School years. In my house, there was a photograph of the two of us poised next to the headlights of a Model T Ford (I think) in his driveway. He had rebuilt it and restored it in his garage; he had a talent for that sort of thing from early on.
There was a period somewhere in those years when I used to visit with Nick and his family on Sunday Mornings after church. Nick and sometimes his brothers, Stan and Dick, would all sit around his father's bed while he held court, still not having gotten up for the day. Nick's father was a prominent psychiatrist with a very wry sense of humor. I learned many years later that one of the secret agenda items during these visits was to get me to laugh. My laugh was basically uncontollable at that time (and a few years following), and they would ply me until I broke down. I never realized this at the time though; Dick told me about it many decades later. I just enjoyed the Young family and Dr. Young's wit and unassuming wisdom.
Nick was a very good swimmer, particularly in the breast stroke. I remember attending the State Meet in either our Sophomore or Junior Year to see him compete for the championship. He finally acceded to state champion in our senior year, as his obituary notes. After going north to college, I lost track of Nick for many years, only reconnecting with him and Judy a couple of times after I married myself. This was in the 90's. I last saw Nick at his house around the time of our 55th NBHS Reunion. He was struggling with Parkinson's and showed me a number of his expressionistic paintings. I was moved by his openness, and his activity was impressive and inspiring. I had been recently thinking that it was time to visit him again.